Clasp for watch bracelets



Feb. 5, 1929; 1,701,050

F. ARMBRUST CLASP FOR WATCH BRACELETS Filed Oct. 2, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 inventor Feb.5, 1929. 1,701,060

- F. ARMBRUST CLASP FOR WATCH BRA CELETS Filed Oct. 2, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Izivc'nai' m dm dihn'flqy Patented 5, 1929.

lTED STATES FERDINAND ARMBRUST, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

CLASP -.'EOR WATCH BRACELETS.

Application filed October 2,1928. Serial No. 309,827.

My invention relates to Watch bracelets and more particularly to clasps for adjustably securing the free ends of the straps constituting the bracelet band.

Heretofore the bracelet straps of this type of bracelet bands have been marred and indented by the clamping member of the adjustable clasp. This has proved more serious in instanceswhere the straps were composed of metallic mesh or of leather.

An essential object of my invention is t'o provide a clasp which when employed in a bracelet shall leave no mark or indentation upon the latter. a

Other objects are facility of operation, strength, and inexpensiveness of construction. o

To the above ends primarily my invention consists in such parts and in suchcombinations oi parts as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings which form part of this specification Figure l is a top plan view of a watch bracelet band includingmy novel clasp,

Figure 2, an enlarged fragmentary front elevation of the same, i v

Figure 3, a top plan view of my clasp embodied in a watch bracelet band of modified form,

Figures 4-, 5 and 6, detail views of the clamping member, slide member, and bearing members of the clasp respectively, and

Figures 7 and 8, sections taken on line 7 ofFigure 2 showing the clasp in enlarged and released positionsrespectively.

Like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the views.

As herein illustrated a watch bracelet or band 15, the watch being omitted from the showing, comprises the usual straps 16 and 17, composed in this instance of wiremesh fabric. One set oi adjacent ends of the straps have fixed thereto in any convenient manner the usual metallic loops 19 for engagement with the lateral attaching bars of a wrist watch or other ornament. The opposite end of the strap 17 has fixed thereto by solder or otherwise the usual guide loop 21 through which slides an intermediate portion of the strap 16. Upon the end of the latter is mounted a clasp, represented gen erally by the reference numeral 23.

The clasp includes a rectangular slide member 24 shown in detail in Figure 5, comprising a back 25, lateral flanges 26 integral therewith, constituting forwardly directed top and .bottom'walls, provided in corresponding end portions with transversely disposed oblong slots 27. s The strap .17 slidably abuts against the front. faceoii' the plate 25, and extends longitudinally thereof between the gi ideiianges or walls Resting against the front face oi": the strap 17', betweenthe flanges, and fast to one end oi the strap 16 is a bearing member 29,

shown indetail in Figure 6. This member IIIClLIClGS, sleeve portion 30 partially surrounding and fixed] to the end of the strap 16, and a resilient bear ng portion 31 extending thereirom; In detail the member 29, which is composed of a single piece of n sheet metal, comprises a rectangular front 'plate '32 provided with rearwardly directed singularly bent lateral lugs ,33 having their end portions 34 inwardly directed tightly overlapping the rear iacerof thestrap 16.

' The lugs cooperate with the plate 32 [to frictionally engage the sleeve, One end of the plate 32 is first rearwardly bent at right angles to form a protective wall 36 for the extremity {of the strap 16., The material from which the wall is formed is bent at substantially right angles to the plane of the wall and forms a rectangular"resilient the back 25 of, the slide member 24, and

tongue 31 of approximately the width of engageable withthe i 'ront :Eace of the strap 17. The tongue, is normally slightly inclined longitudinally so that while its inner end abuts against the strap its outer end portion is, when free, somewhat spaced from the strap as shown in Figure 8. The material ottheouterend of the tongue is forwardly bent to form a transversely curved lip 39. Adjacent the lip the tongue is pro vided with lateral rectangular lugs 40 slidable in the slots 27 of the slide member 24. A clamping member 42 ofthin sheet metal, shown in detailin Figure 4, comprises a flat substantially rectangular cover plate 48, in this instance ornamented by openings 44: to simulate a buckle, Upon one end of the cover plate is a rearwardly directed clamping flange 46 bent at substantially right angles to the latter, having upon its ends rectangular pivot projections 47. 'There are also integral with the top and bottom of the plate 43 rearwardly directed flanges 49 provided centrally with pointed projections 50. The pivot members 47 extend loosely into the slots 27 of the slide member forwardly of the lugs 40 of the bearing memher. The plate 43 in clamped position overlaps the sleeve 30 of thecbearing member, and in this position the rear edge of the clamping flange 46 tightly forces the tongue 31 against the front face of the strap 17. The flange 46 is released from engagement by manually swinging the member 42 forward to some position as that shown in Figure 8. The projection 50 upon the cover flanges 49 are adapted to register in indents or cavities 52 in guide flanges 26 of the slide member 24, and retains the cover member 42 normally in closed position. 7 I

In operation it will be observed that when the parts are in clamped position the clasp prevents any relative movement of the straps 16 and 17. hen, however, it is de sired to expand the bracelet band to permit passage of a human hand, it is necessary only to tilt the member 42 by insertion of the finger nail under the free end of the plate 43, whereupon the strap parts are rendered relatively slidable. The relative sliding is facilitated by the lip 39 which prevents accidental catching of the forward edge of the tongue 31 in the surface of the adjacent strap 17.

It will be noted that the tongue 31 intervenes between the clamping flange 46 and the strap 17, so that the edge of the flange does not contact with the strap surface, and, therefore, the latter is not indented or marred.

In the modified construction shown in Figure 3 the structure and operation of the clasp is identical with that already described, but the watch bracelet band 15 is composed of straps 54 and 55. The latter has the end carrying the bearing member 29 folded into a loop 57, which loop, is therefore, extensible. An oblong ring 59, through which the loop loosely passes, has also passing wtherethrough a metal tube attached to the end of the strap 54.

I claim 1. In a watch bracelet comprising a front strap portion and a rear strap portion, of a signature.

slide comprising a back engaging one face of the rear strap portion, and forwardly directed guide flanges integral with the top and bottom of the back provided with transversely disposed oblong slots near their ends and with cavities, a sleeve fixed to the end of the front strap portion abutting against the front of the back strap portion, a bearing tongue integral with the end of the sleeve extending over the said front face, lateral lugs upon the tongue slidable in the slots, a cover overlapping the front face of the sleeve, a rearwardly directed clamping flange upon one end of the cover and dis posed at substantially right angles thereto engageable with the tongue, rearwardly directed flanges upon the top and bottom of the cover slidably engaging the guide flanges, pivot projections upon the clamping flange registering in the slots, and projections upon the flanges of the cover registerable in the cavities of the guide flanges.

2. In a watch bracelet comprising a front strap portion and a rear strap portion, of a slide comprising a back engaging one face of the rear strap portion, and forwardly directed guide flanges integral with the back provided with transverse oblong slots near their ends and with cavities, a sleeve upon the end of the front strap portion abutting against the front of the back strap portion, a resilient bearing tongue upon the sleeve engaging the back strap portion, aforwardly curved lip upon the free end of the tongue, lateral lugs upon the tongue slidable in the slots, a cover overlapping the front face of the sleeve, a rearwardly directed clamping flange upon one end of the cover engageable with the tongue, rearwardly directed flanges upon the cover engaging the guide flanges, pivot projections upon the clamping flange registering in the slots, and projections upon the flanges of the cover registerable in the cavities of the flanges.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my FERDINAND ARMBRUST. 

